Hmm...

You really shouldn't be able to win a game on the road when you don't score in the last 2:27.

Nor should you be able to pull off a road win against the #2 team in the conference, two days after never really being in it at home, against the #1 team.

Finally, there's no way you're going to pull off a win when you put the Pistons on the line in the fourth quarter. That's how Chauncey Billups and Rip Hamilton always close out games.

And yet, here are the Sixers, with a truly meaningful if not particularly attractive one-point win in Detroit. Give it up for shaky lead dog Andre Iguodala, who led the way with 22 points. But the real hero was Sam Dalembert shaking off a 3 for 9 night to contribute 15 boards, 2 steals and 3 blocks, along with yeoman defensive work. (Yeoman is one of those words that no one would know, if not for sports. Have you ever heard it attached to anything outside of the arena?)

I'm not sure exactly what was sprinkled on Sam's corn flakes, but he's been trying for well over a year now, starting back with the Iverson Emancipation. It's hard to completely get in his corner, given his erratic performances in the past, but he's averaging a double-double with over 2 blocks a game for the season. Heck, he's even getting to the line a few times a game, and cutting down the fouls and turnovers, despite increase minutes. With the departure of Shaq to parts west and Jermaine O'Neal to the recesses of his own anus, he's even... shudder... starting to get to the point where you have to consider him one of the best centers in the East.

If this is a preview of a first round series, you still go hard for the Pistons; after all, they have the experience, and it's not like they are going to go 65% from the line with ten misses very often. But the Andres seem to match up well with the Pistons guards, and the hometown heroes are now just three games under .500... and .500 gets you a playoff spot in the East with time off for good behavior. And maybe they'd be better off with Detroit, rather than Cleveland, Toronto or Orlando. (Yes, it's blasphemy. But not a terribly strong one, really.)